Check a nominated vessel's class status before fixture

Data from the IACS Vessels in Class dataset, as of 30 September 2026. Refreshed weekly.

To vet a nominated vessel's class, look up its IMO number in the IACS Vessels in Class dataset. Check that the status shows the vessel is currently classed, that the next survey date is not in the past, and that there was no recent status change. Vessel Class Finder returns these fields in one API call or one free lookup.

What chartering and vetting teams check

When an owner nominates a vessel, the class record is one of the first things to confirm. It is quick, and it can end a nomination early.

Is the vessel classed by an IACS member today?
Has class ever been suspended or withdrawn, and when did that last change?
Is a survey overdue?
Did the vessel move between societies recently?

These checks do not replace your vetting inspection, or the class certificates the owner must provide. They help you decide quickly which nominations to take further.

Workflow: vet a nomination in five steps

Take the IMO number from the nomination. Do not rely on the vessel name alone, because names change.
Look it up with the free lookup box on the site, or call POST /vessels with {"imos":["9074729"]} and your x-api-key.
Confirm status is Delivered or Reinstated, and that class shows the society you expect.
Compare date_of_next_survey with today's date. If it is in the past, ask the owner why.
Read date_of_latest_status and reason_for_status. A recent change needs an explanation before fixture.

For a shortlist of several nominated ships, send up to 100 IMOs in one request.

Fields and statuses to check, and what they mean

status: Delivered means the vessel entered class with that society and is currently classed. Reinstated means class was restored after a suspension or withdrawal. Ask what caused the gap. Suspended and Withdrawn mean the vessel is not currently in class with that society. Reassigned means class was reassigned, for example after a transfer.
date_of_survey: the date of the last survey recorded.
date_of_next_survey: the next survey due. A date in the past suggests an overdue survey. "Survey overdue" is one of the most common reasons behind a suspension or withdrawal (1,589 vessels).
date_of_latest_status: when the current status took effect. A very recent date deserves a question.
reason_for_status: for example Transfer of class to another IACS member, Owner's request for other reasons or Casualty.
class: the society code, such as NV for DNV, LRS for LR or NKK for ClassNK.

Dates are DD/MM/YYYY strings. Parse them as day first.

Limits of the data

The data comes from IACS's public dataset and is refreshed weekly, every Sunday. A change made yesterday may not show yet. It is not a substitute for official class records or certificates from the society.

It covers only IACS-classed vessels. If an IMO is not found, the vessel may be classed by a non-IACS society or have no class. Treat that as something to check before you fix, not as a final answer.

Check a whole fleet at once

Free API key: 100 lookups a month, up to 100 IMO numbers per request. Paid plans from €49/month.

Get a free API key

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a ship's class status by IMO number?

Enter the IMO in the free lookup box on the site, or send it to the POST /vessels endpoint. You get the class society, status, survey dates and the reason for the latest status.

How can I tell if a vessel's survey is overdue?

Compare date_of_next_survey with today's date. If it is in the past, the survey may be overdue. Ask the owner for the current class certificates and survey status.

What does Delivered mean in the class status?

In the IACS dataset, Delivered means the vessel entered class with that society. In practice it is the status of a vessel that is currently classed.

Should I still ask for class certificates?

Yes. This data comes from IACS's public dataset and does not replace official class records or certificates from the society. Use it to screen nominations quickly and to know what to ask for.

Can I vet several nominated vessels at once?

Yes. One POST /vessels request takes up to 100 IMOs. Each IMO counts as one lookup, and the free plan includes 100 lookups a month.